Trump calls Iran a failed state after US strikes on Larak Island

The United States launched strikes on two Iranian launch systems on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to a US official cited by Reuters. This marks the first time the US has attacked Iranian soil since late July. The attack came after Iranian forces were reportedly preparing to launch rockets loaded with sea mines into the strategic waterway.

Larak Island, situated south of Hormuz Island and east of Qeshm Island, is located approximately 1,100 kilometers southeast of Tehran. Following the strikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed casualties among both military personnel and civilians, with some reports citing Iran's IRGC acknowledging deaths and injuries.

In response, Iran vowed retaliation, warning that the attack would be met with "punishment." This escalation follows the commencement of joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran on February 28, leading to retaliation from Tehran targeting Israel and Gulf nations that host American military facilities. Iranian Supreme Leader Mohammad Javad Khamenei issued a call for unity among Muslim-majority nations in opposition to the US and Israel, addressing the situation six months into the ongoing conflict.